Month: February 2020

Instructions on Prayer

1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,

2 for kings and all those who are in authority,so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godlinessand dignity.

3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,

4 who wants everyoneto be savedand to come to the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God

and one mediatorbetween God and humanity,

Christ Jesus, Himself human,

6 who gave Himself — a ransom for all,

a testimony at the proper time.

7 For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle(I am telling the truth;I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentilesin faith and truth.

Instructions to Men and Women

8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.

9 Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing,with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold,pearls, or expensive apparel,

10 but with good works,as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God.

11 A woman should learn in silence with full submission.

12 I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent.

13 For Adam was created first, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.

15 But she will be saved through childbearing, if she continuesin faith, love, and holiness,with good judgment.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TI/2-91478d6faf1e3ee1264558df40c925e2.mp3?version_id=72—

Qualifications of Church Leaders

1 This saying is trustworthy:“If anyone aspires to be an overseer,he desires a noble work.”

2 An overseer,therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible,respectable, hospitable,an able teacher,

3 not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy—

4 one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity.

5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)

6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil.

7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil’strap.

8 Deacons,likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money,

9 holding the mystery of the faithwith a clear conscience.

10 And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.

11 Wives,too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled,faithful in everything.

12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.

13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

The Mystery of Godliness

14 I write these things to you, hoping to cometo you soon.

15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household,which is the church of the living God,the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16 And most certainly, the mystery of godlinessis great:

Hewas manifested in the flesh,

vindicated in the Spirit,

seen by angels,

preached among the nations,

believedon in the world,

taken up in glory.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TI/3-cd4a7d4c1f965eecd4649bc58ba11fc8.mp3?version_id=72—

Demonic Influence

1 Now the Spiritexplicitly says that in later timessome will depart from the faith,paying attention to deceitful spiritsand the teachings of demons,

2 through the hypocrisyof liars whose consciencesare seared.

3 They forbid marriageand demand abstinencefrom foods that God createdto be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.

4 For everything created by God is good,and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

5 since it is sanctified by the word of Godand by prayer.

A Good Servant of Jesus Christ

6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faithand the good teaching that you have followed.

7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths.Rather, train yourself in godliness,

8 for

the training of the body has a limited benefit,

but godliness is beneficial in every way,

since it holds promise for the present life

and also for the life to come.

9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.

10 In fact, we labor and strivefor this, because we have put our hope in the living God,who is the Saviorof everyone,especially of those who believe.

Instructions for Ministry

11 Command and teach these things.

12 Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech,in conduct,in love,in faith, in purity.

13 Until I come,give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.

14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy,with the laying on of handsby the council of elders.

15 Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.

16 Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will saveboth yourself and your hearers.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TI/4-5131f1ede83f22becf748181b5f03e67.mp3?version_id=72—

1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers,

2 older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.

The Support of Widows

3 Supportwidowswho are genuinely widows.

4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.

5 The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in Godand continues night and day in her petitions and prayers;

6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

7 Command this also, so they won’t be blamed.

8 But if anyone does not providefor his own, that is his own household, he has denied the faithand is worse than an unbeliever.

9 No widow should be placed on the official support listunless she is at least 60 years old, has been the wife of one husband,

10 and is well known for good works— that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality,washed the saints’ feet,helped the afflicted,and devoted herself to every good work.

11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry

12 and will therefore receive condemnationbecause they have renounced their original pledge.

13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossipsand busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.

14 Therefore, I want younger women to marry,have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us.

15 For some have already turned awayto follow Satan.

16 If anybelieving woman has widows in her family, she should help them, and the church should not be burdened, so that it can help those who are genuinely widows.

Honoring the Elders

17 The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium,especially those who work hardat preaching and teaching.

18 For the Scripture says:

Do not muzzle an ox

while it is treading out the grain,and,

the worker is worthy of his wages.

19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.

21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observethese things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

22 Don’t be too quick to appointanyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

24 Some people’s sins are obvious, going before them to judgment,but the sins of others surfacelater.

25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TI/5-8be47078ff09d6635fd8eb535d333406.mp3?version_id=72—

Honoring Masters

1 All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own mastersto be worthy of all respect, so that God’s nameand His teaching will not be blasphemed.

2 Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved.

False Doctrine and Human Greed

Teach and encourage these things.

3 If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our LordJesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness,

4 he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words.From these come envy,quarreling,slander,evil suspicions,

5 and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godlinessis a way to material gain.

6 But godliness with contentment is a great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into the world,

andwe can take nothing out.

8 But if we have food and clothing,

we will be content with these.

9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a rootof all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faithand pierced themselves with many pains.

Fight the Good Fight

11 But you, man of God, run from these things,

and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,

love,endurance,and gentleness.

12 Fight the good fightfor the faith;

take hold of eternal life

that you were called to

and have made a good confession about

in the presence of many witnesses.

13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all,and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate,I charge you

14 to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearingof our LordJesus Christ.

15 God will bring this about in His own time.He is

the blessed and onlySovereign,

the King of kings,

and the Lord of lords,

16 the only One who has immortality,

dwelling in unapproachable light;

no one has seen or can see Him,

to Him be honor and eternal might.

Amen.

Instructions to the Rich

17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogantor to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,who richly provides us with all thingsto enjoy.

18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,to be generous, willing to share,

19 storing up for themselves a good reservefor the age to come,so that they may take hold of life that is real.

Guard the Heritage

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,avoidingirreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the “knowledge” that falsely bears that name.

21 By professing it, somepeople have deviated from the faith.

Grace be with all of you.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/1TI/6-b05f36fddff1134366f845d69d089e9d.mp3?version_id=72—

Greeting

1 Paul,an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,for the promise of lifein Christ Jesus:

2 To Timothy, my dearly loved son.

Grace, mercy, and peacefrom God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanksgiving

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscienceas my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.

4 Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy,

5 clearly recalling your sincere faiththat first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice,and that I am convinced is in you also.

6 Therefore, I remind you to keep ablazethe gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.

7 For God has not given us a spiritof fearfulness,but one of power,love,and sound judgment.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

8 So don’t be ashamedof the testimony about our Lord,or of me His prisoner.Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the powerof God.

9 He has saved us and called us

with a holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to His own purposeand grace,

which was given to us in Christ Jesus

before time began.

10 This has now been made evident

through the appearingof our Savior Christ Jesus,

who has abolished death

and has brought lifeand immortality to light

through the gospel.

11 For this gospel I was appointeda herald, apostle, and teacher,

12 and that is why I sufferthese things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to meuntil that day.

Be Loyal to the Faith

13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teachingthat you have heard from me,in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you.

15 This you know: All those in Asiahave turned away from me,including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord grant mercyto the household of Onesiphorus,because he often refreshed meand was not ashamed of my chains.

17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome,he diligently searched for me and found me.

18 May the Lord grant that he obtain mercyfrom Him on that day. And you know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2TI/1-048bf2b029cbd5d81b1b2705cdcd2750.mp3?version_id=72—

Be Strong in Grace

1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the gracethat is in Christ Jesus.

2 And what you have heard from mein the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithfulmen who will be able to teach others also.

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the recruiter.

5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.

7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the deadand descended from David. This is according to my gospel.

9 I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message is not bound.

10 This is why I endureall things for the elect:so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11 This saying is trustworthy:

For if we have died with Him,

we will also live with Him;

12 if we endure, we will also reignwith Him;

if we deny Him, He will also deny us;

13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful,

for He cannot deny Himself.

An Approved Worker

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before Godnot to fight about words;this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

16 But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.

17 And their word will spread like gangrene; Hymenaeusand Philetus are among them.

18 They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,and are overturning the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:

The Lord knows those who are His,and

Everyone who names the nameof the Lord

must turn away from unrighteousness.

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls,but also those of wood and clay, some for honorableuse, some for dishonorable.

21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,he will be a specialinstrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

22 Fleefrom youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,along with those who call on the Lordfrom a pure heart.

23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels.

24 The Lord’sslave must not quarrel,but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,and patient,

25 instructing his opponents with gentleness.Perhaps God will grant them repentanceleading them to the knowledge of the truth.

26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap,having been captured by him to do his will.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2TI/2-9e4776a18c5b636858437416caf827d9.mp3?version_id=72—

Difficult Times Ahead

1 But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days.

2 For people will be lovers of self,lovers of money,boastful, proud,blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers,without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,

4 traitors,reckless,conceited,lovers of pleasurerather than lovers of God,

5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power.Avoid these people!

6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions,

7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

8 Just as Jannes and Jambresresisted Moses,so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind,worthlessin regard to the faith.

9 But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirswas also.

Struggles in the Christian Life

10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose,faith, patience, love,and endurance,

11 along with the persecutions and sufferingsthat came to me in Antioch,Iconium,and Lystra.What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

12 In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceivingand being deceived.

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,

15 and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures,which are able to give you wisdom for salvationthrough faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is inspired by Godand is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2TI/3-ca5dba36a0f2653546cf067aac77c05f.mp3?version_id=72—

Fulfill Your Ministry

1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judgethe living and the dead,and because of His appearing and His kingdom:

2 Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine,but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.

4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

5 But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,and the time for my departure is close.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 There is reserved for me in the future the crownof righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

Final Instructions

9 Make every effort to come to me soon,

10 for Demashas deserted me,because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica.Crescens has gone to Galatia,Titusto Dalmatia.

11 Only Lukeis with me. Bring Markwith you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.

12 I have sent Tychicusto Ephesus.

13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troaswith Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.

14 Alexanderthe coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.

15 Watch outfor him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.

16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me.May it not be counted against them.

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Benediction

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila,and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastushas remained at Corinth; I left Trophimussick at Miletus.

21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2TI/4-32f54e0f026b6be52d9d0ac78f3bba5c.mp3?version_id=72—